These tributes to Bob Weir are inspired by this photograph by Gabriel Jones. Only 10 marble/paperweights and 10 pendants will be made with this image. These pieces will be available at the website. He is an amazing photographer and he also sells some really beautiful tie dyes. Move me brightly He represents some Master tye dye makers. And he has a Rad marble available for sale. Totally impressed.

Love and light, and thanks for reading my blahg! Sometimes I like to share this crazy art experience….One day at a time, and all good things in all good time.

Layer upon layer the images are embedded within the clear glass. The size of the piece determines what tools I need to create it.

Most of the marbles I can make in my studio with my equipment. My torch flame, and kiln. Each marble requires at least 4 firings, and sometimes 5 or six. I can envision future works having 10 or 15 kiln firing sessions.

Anything larger than about 2″, I need to rent a shop for. And, I need an Assistant in order to complete the piece. Something I like to call, “An investment”.

Renting the hot shop is very exciting. There is a sense of urgency and immediacy that I have not experienced before. My art has always had a little bit of chance art attitude. Wait and see what happens, see how things evolve. In the hot shop, you want to know what your making before you make it. Time is money. The more I work there, the more I come up with ways to improvise and take chances. I am really stoked about how things are coming out.

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to work with very talented Artist’s in the glass industry. My newest pieces would not of happened without them. This first picture is Albert Young (He teaches me), and myself looking over some paper weights in the Juice Box. I hang at the Juice box, and I am currently renting the shop to make some new work with an awesome team.

Albert and Sheila at the Juicebox. phot by, Bill Mcmurtry

I started learning the hot shop in 2008. Real life kind of got in the way of that pursuit. I stuck with my torch set up in my studio. I started working in the hot shop again last Spring 2014 with hopes of incorporating my art with my Late Husbands art. Wanting to make a larger piece than what I could produce in my flame working studio. The hot shop has the big pot of glass that you can grab from, and this big hole of heat that you can keep your work warm in.

This shop is not for just anyone. It really takes dedication to acquire these skills. Lots of mess ups to get to where you need to be.

A big challenge for me was (and still is) working in teams to produce immediate art. I’ve had to take the time to get to know people and understand how they work at a whole different level. (It really has been a blast. I have to say the glass Peeps really are good ones!!) I am really used to working alone all these years, and in a less immediate fashion.

On top of learning to use the hot shop, people, and equipment, I brought a new medium into the mix. These images you see in that glass, that is no cup of tea. Nobody showed me how to do that. And I have researched it to the core! Took me years to afford the time and equipment to figure that out. And putting the image INTO the glass. Welcome to the Future Ladies and gentlemen.

Hot paperweight on the bench

This process takes a fair share of time. Starting with the photograph, leading to computer manipulation, translation of color to metal, application processes, multiple kiln firings, and now I take it to the Hot shop!

Incorporating this traditional cane applications with this image, exaggerated the hair in this drawing perfectly. I owe a Big Thank you to Albert for working this piece with me. Very Stoked with how it came out. I am stoked to create some more with that technique.

Ron Morley ink drawing in glass Evan Morley’s permanent collection

The next run of paper weights took a team of 3 people. Awesomeness. And this is just the beginning. I still haven’t made the piece I came to make. Several more to share to get to where I’m at.

I know this drawing is named after a Grateful Dead Song. I cannot remember which one? Any guesses welcome in the comments. Love and light!

Music sure can sooth my soul. I am so super Lucky!! I got tickets to see the Grateful Dead in Chicago. The “Fare the well” shows!! Stoked!!! The Dead have given me some free art to work with in the near future too. Pretty sweet!

Check out these tribute pendants at the New Website !! I’m collaborating with all these talented old school Dead heads!! Love it!

Note-I decided that since I’m a One Woman show, and cant make up my mind about anything….seriously overloaded with decisions these days….I’m just going to open the website and roll with it. YUP! BLANK white canvas. Imagine what I could do with that? LOL

New!! New!! New!! Been working on my “Concert series” of Marbles. A new technique!! I figured it out all by myself over several years! (BAM! that’s my reward, I get to say that. lol) I’m using those decals I sell. A tribute to the Grateful Dead, my favorite band. Totally stoked to collaborate with several different Artist’s on this!!!! Here is a peak.

This is my New part time Assistant! I am learning I can not do it all as fast as I need it done. I am so stoked to have Alison on board. An amazing Women that can move Mountains! Truly Grateful for her. And she likes to dance! We have fun.

Alison also sells my glass beads and functional work at her glass Gallery in Waterford, Mi., ‘The Jellypond!’

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Last but not least! Thank you for you!! The Customer, the Peer, the Collector, the friend!! I am truly Grateful for you!!

This year I am inspired by the idea of creating a piece about a memory. The project is to create glass beads that represent a memory of something you care about. Then create a piece of jewelry with it. I am inspired to make the bead, not really the jewelry part… I started to make a bead for this project, and there seams to be an incompatible glass in my bead, and it broke mid way (I garaged it in the kiln for a while…)
remembering show days with the Grateful Dead…I started to weld it back together and then realized it might be a glass issue,and I can re-make if I get a chance…

Like this:

I remember the red glow of Jerry’s shirt while the lights shined down, and his soul RAGED the Coliseum. “So many roads ease my soul” too. Travelling around the country, while seeing a different show every time. Surprise! Greatest cover band ever. And, the original work; deeply insightful. The Grateful Dead is a huge inspiration in my art, and life in general.